Here are the countries that have bans on TikTok

TikTok, the massively popular short-form video app that is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, is facing increasing limits and bans on a global scale. In recent months, lawmakers in the United States, Europe, Canada, and some parts of Africa, have escalated efforts to restrict access to TikTok citing security threats.

In the U.S., a looming ban and a recent congressional hearing with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew have made many a headline. Beyond, across North America, Europe, and Asia, several countries have implemented some level of restriction on the app, largely over privacy and cybersecurity concerns connected to its parent company ByteDance, which has ties to the Chinese government.

International government bodies including the European Commission and NATO have banned staff from using TikTok on their corporate phones, as have federal governments in countries across the globe.

Out of curiosity, I went all out to research countries that have invoked partial or total bans on the app.

Afghanistan

The Taliban banned TikTok in Afghanistan in April 2022, saying that the platform’s content “was not consistent with Islamic laws”, according to Bloomberg.

Australia

On April 4, Australia banned the app from all federal government-owned devices, citing security concerns raised by the Department of Home Affairs. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the ban would be imposed “as soon as practicable”.

Belgium

Belgium banned TikTok from the work phones of government officials. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a statement to Politico, “We can’t be naive: TikTok is a Chinese company that currently is mandated to cooperate with Chinese intelligence services.”

Canada

Mirroring other countries, Canada banned TikTok from all government mobile devices in February of this year. Mona Fortier, President of the Treasury Board, said the partial ban is due to the app presenting “an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security.”

She said in a statement:

The decision to remove and block TikTok from government mobile devices is being taken as a precaution, particularly given concerns about the legal regime that governs the information collected from mobile devices, and is in line with the approach of our international partners.

Denmark

Denmark’s Defense Ministry banned employees from having TikTok downloaded on their work devices in March. Again related to security considerations assessed by the country’s Center for Cyber Security, staffers were told to remove the app as soon as possible.

India

India made moves against TikTok in 2020, implementing a nationwide ban on TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps, for “[engaging] in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.” The government put the ban in place after a deadly border clash between Indian and Chinese military forces. India is the largest country to place a blanket ban on the app.

The Netherlands

While not an outright ban, Dutch officials have been told not to use TikTok. The recommendation is in line with several other government service bodies, but is being less monitored in the Netherlands, a spokesperson for the general affairs ministry told Politico.

New Zealand

Following several European countries making similar decisions, New Zealand’s parliament announced a ban on TikTok on all staff devices.

“This decision has been made based on our own experts’ analysis and following discussion with our colleagues across government and internationally,” read the government’s statement made by parliamentary service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero. “Based on this information the Service has determined that the risks are not acceptable in the current New Zealand Parliamentary environment.”

Norway

The Norwegian Parliament banned TikTok on governmental devices in March, though allowing civil servants to use the app on professional grounds on their personal devices. The country’s justice minister Emilie Enger Mehl said in a statement, “The Norwegian intelligence services single out Russia and China as the main risk factors for Norway’s security interests.” Mehl experienced her fair share of scrutiny over having TikTok on her work phone albeit before the ban.

Somalia

In August 2023, Somalia banned TikTok over concerns about terror-related content. The government said terrorist groups are using platforms like TikTok and Telegram to spread “horrific images and misinformation to the public.”